In the first
section on physiology and psychology the
following subjects are covered:
- the role of the senses in
capturing information;
- the power of flexible
responses;
- the role of memory and
association in learning;
- why money is valued so
much;
- what consciousness is and
why language distinguishes humans from other
animals;
- the incentives behind
every one of our actions;
- the role of the emotions
in our behaviour;
- why we are geared more
towards pain than pleasure;
- how our characters are
formed;
- the basic insights upon
which all the major theories of psychology are
based;
- the defence mechanisms of
the mind;
- why we are trapped in a
repetitive cycle of behaviour;
- the important role of
habituation in our actions and thoughts;
- why we deceive ourselves
by adopting mystic and superstitious beliefs;
- why ancient customs and
erroneous beliefs continue to thrive;
- why we believe the
opinions and prejudices of society are those of
our own and
- why humans are able to
kill and torture each other so easily.
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In the second
section on history the following subjects are
covered:
- how many different
factors influence the creation of socially
approved actions or morality;
- how ideas spread around
the world;
- how myths evolved and
their similarity across cultures;
- the role of fear in the
development of mystic and superstitious belief;
- how agriculture and
private property came into being; how theft,
- war and conquest arose;
- how power fell into fewer
and fewer hands;
- the unique factors that
favoured the rise of democracy in ancient Greece
and in America;
- how morality developed in
the first civilised societies;
- how society clings
tenaciously to its beliefs;
- how pain and suffering
modifies social beliefs;
- the typical circumstances
that give rise to critical thinking and
scepticism;
- how the major religions
developed.
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In the third
section on philosophy the following subjects are
covered:
- why humans are divided into two
schools of thought in their search for truth;
- why the majority of
people throw away their capacity for intelligent
thought;
- how the greatest human
thinkers set about finding the truth;
- that everything is in a
constant process of change;
- what makes people believe
that what they think exists;
- that morality is relative
but some moral systems are better than others;
- that justice is an
artificial set of standards;
- how brute force and crude
psychology are used to manipulate us;
- the myth of impartial
observation and why science, logic and
mathematics are also based on faith;
- why our interpretation of
events is always biased;
- why the notion of human
rights is an error;
- what intuition and
self-evident truths really are;
- what assumptions are made
by socialists and Marxists and
- what analytical
philosophy can yield; what existentialism is.
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In the fourth section on
morality the following subjects are covered:
- the true origin of morality;
- the two greatest errors
of reason;
- the basis of all moral
obligations;
- the dangers of the common
belief that equality means a fair share for all;
- how social values can
achieve what taxation and socialism cannot;
- how to determine the
obstacles to our personal freedom;
- how to determine whether
we are ruled by domineering desires;
- the methods of
manipulation used by authorities;
- the dangers that face
free-thinkers;
- the merits of critical
rationalism as opposed to irrationalism;
- the three laws that are
in everyone's interest to abide by;
- how to create moral
guidelines that maximise the range and scope of
our actions without guilt;
- what the role of
government is and what we should demand from it;
- why politicians ignore
the real issues that commit society to a cycle
of revolutions;
- how to recognise unfair
legislation;
- how to avoid making and
falling for misleading arguments;
- the unimaginable harm
that could follow the blind acceptance of
advice, especially if it is paid for;
- how our harmful habits
are reinforced by our thoughts;
- how to overcome habitual
behaviours without spending thousands and
- the most common methods
of overcoming fears, anxiety and paranoia.
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